Google+ Raising a Trilingual Child: August 2015

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Monday, August 17, 2015

Question about language choice asked by British-Chinese parent living in Czech Republic.

British Chinese and Czech family living in Czech republic asks a question about language choice. Parents would like to raise a trilingual child that speaks English, Chinese (Cantonese) and Czech. 

Monday, August 10, 2015

Bilingual Children Travelling to Minority Language Country. Diary. DAY 3



DAY TREE

Today is on the list:  Best place for adults and kids to visit in St-Petersburg  --- When music unites the cultures  --- Birthday party - how bilingual kids feel encountering other kids speaking their minority language.

( For those of you , who are just joining in: I am travelling alone with two 3 and 5 years old kids to our family minority language home country - Russia. This is a continuation. Read about bilingual kids travel day one  and day two.

The day was beautiful we choose to spend it outside and went to see the birthplace of St-Petersburg - Peter and Paul fortress.



Remembering my childhood and how much fun I had climbing on the cannons, I brought my kids to do the same on the grounds of the fortress and on the road to our next destination - the artillery museum.

Here are the pictures I have taken inside the fortress:

Rocket at front of the Museum of Space Exploration and Rocket Technology in Peter and Paul Fortress, St Petersburg, Russia 


There are many many more interesting museums on the grounds of the fortress. Here are some of them


View on the Peter and Paul Cathedral from Fortress wall.


Russian howitzer on the ground of Peter and Paul Fortress


15 -17 century cannons near Artillery Museum


Reading reading everywhere!
This is one of the reasons why you should start teaching your children letters early. Kids try to read signs around them all the time!  See post about teaching children to read.



Ice cream break! 
This was the first one for my kids to try. There was a choice of many different shapes and tastes. I bought  for my kids the taste of my childhood. Working hard in passing on my heritage ;)



In the artillery museum we saw the famous “Katyusha” ( rocket launcher used during the WWII). My trilingual children know the Russian song by the same name very well. They also know the song of Italian partisans "Fischia il vento" with different words by Felice Cascione but with the same music by M. Blanter.

At some point my son started to sing the Italian song and Russians around had a puzzled look on the faces. Every Russian knows the Katyusha tune, but they could not figure out what words , as it seemed, a Russian boy was singing. BTW it was in the bathroom... Fun times!

Here are both songs audio and text:



Катюша ( Katyusha)

Lyrics: M. Isakovsky

Расцветали яблони и груши,
Поплыли туманы над рекой.
Выходила на берег Катюша,
На высокий берег на крутой.

Выходила, песню заводила
Про степного сизого орла,
Про того, которого любила,
Про того, чьи письма берегла.

Ой, ты, песня, песенка девичья,
Ты лети за ясным солнцем вслед
И бойцу на дальнем пограничье
От Катюши передай привет.

Пусть он вспомнит девушку простую,
Пусть услышит, как она поет,
Пусть он землю бережет родную,
А любовь Катюша сбережет.
Fischia il vento

Lyrics: Felice Cascione

Fischia il vento, infuria la bufera,
scarpe rotte eppur bisogna andar,
a conquistare la rossa primavera
dove sorge il sol dell’ avvenir.

Ogni contrada è patria del ribelle,
ogni donna a lui dona un sospir,
nella notte lo guidano le stelle
forte il cuore e il braccio nel colpir.

Se ci coglie la crudele morte,
dura vendetta verrà dal partigian;
ormai sicura è già la dura sorte
del fascista vile traditor.

Cessa il vento, calma è la bufera,
torna a casa il fiero partigian,
sventolando la rossa sua bandiera;
vittoriosi e alfin liberi siam.



Finally evening was approaching and we had friend's kid's birthday party to go to. When I told my daughter let’s go she said: “Мама я могу только на тебе или на такси.” “Mama, I can do it either on you or in a taxi.” I was impressed with my great walker's ability of grasping the concept of taking a Taxi considering that she has not taken any before!

More sweets to taste - Birthday cake!



During the Birthday party my kids played with others as if they were natives. Nobody could tell that Russian is their second language. I guess the fact that they speak it to each other makes all the difference in their ability to use it in a free play. (Read about Multilingual siblings language choice).
Perhaps the only thing is giving them out - they are loud as all Italians are :)

A great company of friends is what kids and adults need :) We came back home way after midnight ...

More to come soon!


Want to hear how our trip has begun? Read:

Bilingual Children Travelling to Minority Language Country - DAY ONE.

Bilingual Children Travelling to Minority Language Country - DAY TWO.


You might also like:

Best Kids' Books in Russian


Kids Radio Stations from different countries in different languages






Monday, August 3, 2015

Bilingual Children Travelling to Minority Language Country. Diary. DAY 2




Day Two.

Brief description: How playgrounds in Russia look like. Great book for your independent reader and  for reading to your child (available in Russian and English). St-Petersburg's Circus - a must see when you are there!

(For those of you , who are just joining in: I am travelling alone with two 3 and 5 years old kids to our family minority language home country - Russia. This is a continuation. Read about Bilingual Children Travelling to Minority Language Country - DAY ONE. )


Kids are kids. No matter where they are they like to go to playgrounds. We could not pass on one in St-Petersburg!

Kids were so excited to learn that the playground has actually a theme. This one has pictures of all the characters from a Russian book written by Alexander Volkov  "The Wizard of the Emerald City"  ( Александр Волков “Волшебник изумрудного города”) , a book that was initially a translation of Bauman’s “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” and then turned into an independent piece of work. We finished reading the last book of the series just before leaving for Russia.

BTW, both of my kids just love all the books about Magic Land and Emerald City (“Волшебной стране" и "Изумрудном городе”). If you have not read them, do so, below you will find a reference to books in Russian and English.  I promise your kids will be asking you to keep on reading, a book after a book :)

Here is the list of Alexander Volkov’s books in Russian placed in order. I also write the titles in English, if you are interested to read them in that language as well.

Список книг Волкова про Волшебную страну по порядку:
 
Волшебник Изумрудного города


Урфин Джюс и его деревянные солдаты

Семь подземных королей

Огненный бог Марранов

Жёлтый Туман

Тайна заброшенного замка 


Here is a great website, where you can read all books about Emerald City online for free ( in Russian): 

Читать “Волшебник изумрудного города” онлайн.
 

Books in English:


Tales of Magic Land 1: The Wizard of the Emerald City and Urfin Jus and his Wooden Soldiers

Tales of Magic Land 2: The Seven Underground Kings and The Fiery God of the Marrans

Tales of Magic Land 3: The Yellow Fog and The Mystery of the Deserted Castle




Finally here are some pictures from our playground visit.



playground St Petersburg Russia



The evening was filled with new exciting emotions - we went to the world famous St-Petersburg Circus! (Шапито в Автово)

To say it was an AMAZING show on water is to say nothing. The performers were outstanding! Truly great show for both kids and adults!
Circus Avtovo St Petersburg Russia stage decoration
When I read that show is on water I was concerned, if there will be animals. They were there! A crocodile, two pitons, white doves, dogs, seals.

Unfortunately taking pictures during the show was not allowed. Check the website for more details. It will give you some hint what this show is all about (really a hint, as those few pictures are not from the best circus acts either) : http://www.circus-avtovo.ru/gallery/photo/28/

It was a memorable experience for my kids and for me. Besides the performance, I will keep in my memory the kids faces full of excitement and joy.

More to come soon!

Click to read DAY 1Bilingual Children Travelling to Minority Language Country - DAY ONE.
Here you will find: One parent travelling with two children. Airport and air plane experience. Significance of the trip.

Or jump to DAY 3  - Bilingual Children Travelling to Minority Language Country - DAY TREE.
Best place for adults and kids to visit in St-Petersburg --- When music unites the cultures --- Birthday party - how bilingual kids feel encountering other kids speaking their minority language. 


You might also like reading:

Check out Kids' Radio Stations from around the world!


Watch Russian cartoons online.


Best children's books to read in Russian.

Meet other parents and multilinguals through reading their life stories! 

Would like to teach your child to read in your language? - Find the answers on what language you should start with and how to do it (click here)